How to stimulate the local economy, $2 at a time

PORTLAND, Ore. – Local companies are launching their own grassroots plan called The People’s Stimulus to help the economy by giving employees cash to spend.

Employees at Oregon Commercial Painters each got $50 worth of $2 bills on two different occasions. They were told to go out and spend it any way they chose, as along as they did not save it or use it to pay bills.

Bill Hornocker with Oregon Commercial Painters was the first to join this program locally and convinced other companies like Miller Paint and Sherwin-Williams to also jump on board.

“It made me really excited to spread this, but I was really amazed how they perceived it,” said Hornrocker. “They ate it up, they were excited.”

Jeremy Renfro, who works at Oregon Commercial Painters, spent his stimulus money at Saturday Market, downtown coffee shops and the Vancouver Farmers’ Market.

“It was a good feeling knowing [that I was] helping local people,” he said. “Money I probably wouldn’t have spent where I spent it but it was good to help out.”

Some of his coworkers donated theirs to local charities.

The plan’s concept began in Alabama with one pharmacist and then a painting company joined and started a Web site for the plan. Now, 46 companies around the country have pledged to contribute almost $116,000.

So far nine local companies are participating and they encourage others to join in.

For more information, visit The People’s Stimulus Web site.